The Hunted (9 page)

“Issy?”

“Um… I have no idea.  We hadn’t discussed that.  I’ll let you know what’s happening later, okay?”

“Okay.  But, if you need anything or if he gets out of line again, you just call and we will come and get you.”

I laughed.  “I’m sure I will be fine.  Enjoy your evening and don’t worry.  I will see you in the morning, one way or another.  Bye Angel.”

“Bye, Issy.  Take care of yourself.”

I slid my cell into my pocket and then sat for a few minutes contemplating Angel’s words. 
Did he mean for me to stay overnight?  If so, where would I sleep?  And exactly how would Lucas watch over me?  Would he sleep with me?

I was jolted from my thoughts by the sound of the door opening.  Lucas leaned in and informed me that he had ordered in dinner.  I thanked him and he came to sit next to me on the bed. 

“How are you feeling?” he asked, softly.

“I have felt better,” I smiled. 

My breath caught in my throat when he took my face in his hands and gently kissed my forehead.  “I really am sorry, Issy. I wouldn’t hurt you for anything.  In fact, if you were mine, I would do anything to keep you safe.”

I opened my mouth to reply but found that no words were forthcoming.  Before I could gather my wits, he released me, stood up and held out his hand.  “Come on, let’s eat.”

I took his hand, glad of the distraction and followed him out of his bedroom and down the hallway.  We entered a large formal dining room that was once again, decorated in the stark, minimalist style.  The room was dominated by a huge oak dining table that had been set for two at one end.

The baked sea bass, delivered by a nearby restaurant, was delicious.   As we ate, we talked about local food - I discovered that Lucas never ate out and so had only sampled the delights of local restaurants that had a delivery service.  The lemon meringue cheesecake was to die for.  I made a mental note to take Angel along to the restaurant one day in the near future.

At Lucas’ suggestion, I stood to return to the living room.  Belatedly, I realized that the wine too was divine and that I had drunk several glasses during the meal, when the floor seemed to tilt and I swayed.  I put my hand out to grab the back of my chair to steady myself but Lucas slid an arm around my waist and pulled me into his side.  “Issy, are you okay?  Do you feel unwell?”

“I’m fine.  It’s your fault for plying me with wine over dinner,” I joked.

“Oh, thank goodness.  I mean … I didn’t-”

“Relax Lucas - I was joking.  You didn’t force me to drink it!”

I felt the tension leave his body as he chuckled.  “Come on, you lush.  Let’s get you back on the sofa.  I shouldn’t have given you any alcohol at all.  I wouldn’t make a good nurse.”

He walked me to the sofa and let me go.  He pushed my arm with his fingertip and I fell down onto the leather cushion with a giggle. 

Lucas shook his head and chuckled.  “Miss Price, I do believe that you’ve drunk too much.”

I did my best to look offended before retorting, “Mr Hunter, you are meant to be keeping me under close medical supervision.  What would the doctor say?”

“I think he would say that I am not observing you closely enough,” he grinned as he sat down right next to me.  “And he would be right.  I shall be more attentive from this moment on,” he deadpanned.

Just then, my cell began to ring and I took it from my pocket.  Angel!  With an apologetic shrug to Lucas, I answered.  The excited squeal that came down the line made me jump.  I waited patiently for an explanation before staring in Lucas in disbelief.

“I see … of course I do … that’s great …no, he didn’t - not a word!”

I completed the conversation quickly before raising an eyebrow at Lucas pointedly.

“What?” he asked, feigning innocence.

“I think you know what all that was about.”

He grinned.  “I may have an inkling.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that you are going to act as the band‘s agent?” I demanded.

“It was confidential,” he said simply.  “It’s up to the band who they tell.”

“But I don’t understand.  Do you have experience?  Why would you want to do that?  You are a self-confessed workaholic, working all hours as it is.”

“It is only temporary.  No, I don’t have experience but perhaps I felt like a change - a new challenge.  Perhaps I wouldn’t need to spend all hours at the office if I had a diversion.  I like to be the best at whatever I do - I wouldn’t be offering to help them if I didn’t think that they were good enough.  They need promoting if they are to get anywhere.  Although I have made them change their name.  I don‘t think that ‘Bolloxed’ would work with a wider audience.”

I laughed remembering how long the band had been arguing about a name.  In order to book a gig, they’d been forced to come up with one on the spur of the moment.  Travis had said “Bolloxed if I know” and it had stuck.  I was curious to know whether the new name was an improvement.  “So what are they calling themselves now?”

Lucas tried hard to keep his face straight but failed miserably.  “I gave them an hour to come up with a new name.  They couldn’t all agree so they voted.  Travis’ outrageous suggestions were outvoted.  They have gone with ‘Denial’.”

I nodded approval at their choice but I just couldn’t understand this at all.  “Um, what do you know about promoting a rock band?  You’ve just confessed to having no experience.  What are you going to be able to do for them?”

He grinned like a Cheshire cat.  “Nothing.  Oh, did Angel happen to mention that I have already secured them a slot at two upcoming festivals?  Two festivals whose lineups have been confirmed for months!”

“Oh my god, the guys will be stoked! But how  …”

“Contacts, dear Issy.  Anything is possible if you have the right contacts.”

This man was full of surprises today.  “I guess I needn’t worry about your lack of experience then,” I grin.  “Just one thing though, I had better get some free tickets to those festivals!”

Lucas looked at me with mock horror. “Do you think they will get rich and famous by giving away freebie tickets?  You will be wanting VIP backstage access next.”

I wondered what stroke of luck had caused the boys to cross Lucas
’ path.  “Was it you that booked them to play in your bar?”

“Yes.”  Was it just me, or did he look distinctly uncomfortable?

“How did you hear about them?”

“I saw them perform somewhere else and just knew how good they were.  So much better than any band I‘d heard in a while.  Of course, I wanted them to perform in my bar.  It was purely good business sense.”

Well, that does make sense … so why is he looking so shifty?
 

“Where did you see them perform?” I knew he was hiding something.

“Oh, someplace over on Queens … I don’t recall exactly where,” he said, not meeting my gaze. 

I was amazed to see a slight flush on Lucas’ cheeks. 
Was he blushing?  Surely not!  Oh, yes he is!  But why would …  Oh no, no way!

“Lucas, when was it that you saw them exactly?” Although I was trying to remain calm, my voice had an edge to it.

“Oh a few weeks ago.  Anyway, do you want to watch TV?  Or a film?” He made to get up off the sofa but I grasped his arm.

“No, I want to know when and where you first saw the band.”

“In Queens, a few weeks ago - I’ve told you already,” he said, staring straight ahead.  “What is this?”

“Lucas.  The night we first met, I was on my way to see the band when I called in here.”

“Yeah, so?”

“They were playing in Queens.”

“Yeah, so?”

“So, that’s a bit of a coincidence isn’t it?  And you’ve told me that you don’t socialize.  Unless you owned the bar in Queens, I just can’t figure out how you would have seen them.  So do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Do you own the bar in Queens?”

“No,” he said quietly.

Somehow I just knew what had happened.  I didn’t want to believe it and let’s face it, it was ridiculous.  But, I asked the question anyway.

“Did you follow me that night?”

Lucas shot up off the sofa and walked to the window.  He stood still, apparently looking out of the window but didn’t answer my question.

“Lucas, did you follow me from here to the bar in Queens?”

Did he just say yes, or did I imagine it?
 

“Lucas?”

I saw his shoulders rise and then slump as he let out a long sigh.  He turned to face me and nodded.  Just a subtle movement of his head but definitely a nod.

“Oh my god!  Have you followed me anywhere else?  Have you been stalking me?”

“Of course not!” He had the nerve to look offended.

“Well, please enlighten me as to the reason you felt it was okay to follow me.  And, did you spy on me all night?   Did you follow me home at - Oh god!  That’s how you knew my address isn’t it?”

“No, Issy.  I didn’t follow you home and I knew your address from when I looked up your name on your lease - the following day.  Look, I’m not proud of what I did.  But you took my breath away.  When I walked into your office when we met, I wanted to throw you over your desk and take you there and then.  I forced myself to walk away before I did something stupid.  I got into my elevator fully intending to return to my apartment but, I’m ashamed to say, that curiosity and jealousy got the better of me. I had to see where you were going, dressed like that.  Instead, I sent the elevator into the underground garage, got my car and followed your taxi to the bar.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  I jumped to my feet and rounded on him.  “Lucas, do you know now crazy that sounds?  Rational people don’t behave in that way.” 

He closed his eyes and sighed.  When he opened them again, they found mine and implored me to listen.  “Issy, after the intensity of our brief meeting, I was out of my mind.  And that’s the whole point.  I’ve never reacted like that to a woman and I’ve never pursued a woman.  But, for some inexplicable reason, I needed to know where you were going, dressed like
that!
And … and, I needed to reassure myself that you weren’t meeting a man.  Don’t ask me why - I just had to.  Right from that moment, Issy, I knew that you were different … special.  If you are freaking out right now, I can assure you that it’s nothing compared to how I felt when I returned to my apartment that night.  I simply could not get you out of my head.  I have never felt a connection with a woman, never wanted or needed anyone but I know that I both want, and need, you. Before we spent that night together, I wanted you so badly and yes, like you, I assumed that the connection we had was purely physical.  At least I hoped it was; I was so out of my depth.  However, that night, and every second I spend with you, only serves to confirm a niggling suspicion that I’ve tried to ignore.  That I can’t be without you - that our connection is more than a physical one.  Issy, whatever it takes, I just want to be with you.”

The raw emotion in his voice was undeniable and, by the end, his voice had cracked and become little more than a hoarse whisper.  His eyes were still locked on to mine and I could feel them probing, urging me to believe him.  A part of me wanted to believe him but the other part just couldn’t comprehend the whole situation.  There was no denying that he was the most handsome man that I had ever seen and that he oozed sex appeal. 
He could surely have any woman that he wanted … yet, he had chosen to avoid the company of women, allegedly because he hated the way that they drooled over him.  Was he simply determined to have me because I didn’t fall at his feet?  Was I just a challenge? 
Before I’d had chance to think I realized that I’d spoken aloud.